Abstract
Reduction in feed intake is a common physiological response of growing pigs facing stressful environmental conditions. The present experiment aims to study (1) the effects of a short-term feed restriction and refeeding on pig performance and metabolism and (2) the differential response between two breeds, Large White (LW), which has been selected for high performance, and Creole (CR), which is adapted to tropical conditions. A trial of 36 castrated male pigs (18 LW and 18 CR) was carried out. For each breed, half of the animals were restrictively fed at 50% of the standard feed allowance for 6 days and then fed normally for the next 14 days. Growth performance, thermoregulatory responses, plasma hormones and metabolites were measured. Results showed that, for all traits, the difference in response between the two breeds was small and rarely significant, which may be due to the short duration of the feed restriction. Irrespective of breed, feed restriction induced a reduction of growth rate and feed efficiency that was rapidly compensated for upon refeeding. Feed restriction also reduced skin temperature, rectal temperature and respiratory rate, as well as blood urea and cholesterol, which are of interest as potential biomarkers for feed restriction.
Highlights
Growing pigs may face periods of feed restriction due to economic reasons or environmental factors
Short periods of feed restriction may occur during pig growth due to economic reasons or external factors, such as heat waves, inflammatory stress, feed transition or social stress[3]
We aimed at understanding the effects of a short and drastic feed restriction on pig metabolism
Summary
Growing pigs may face periods of feed restriction due to economic reasons or environmental factors. A better understanding of the impact of feed restriction on pig physiology and metabolism would allow to set up strategies to limit the economic impact of stressful conditions and improve animal welfare during stress. The growing pig must adjust its metabolism to maintain homeostasis through changes in nutrient partitioning between growth and maintenance. The CR provides a good model to study the genetic variability in the response to feed restriction in pigs by comparing it to the Large White breed (LW) that has been selected for high growth performance in optimal conditions. Time of day (hour) and subsequent refeeding on pig postabsorptive metabolism and (2) to compare the response of two breeds differing in their growth potential to feed restriction, LW and CR. We hypothesized that feed restriction would affect pig growth performance, thermoregulation and metabolism differently in the two breeds
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